Locking cable hanger and method of using

ABSTRACT

A cable hanger for the solar, mining, and electrical industry for use in supporting a plurality of conductive cables from a messenger wire.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is a continuation application of and claims priority toU.S. patent application Ser. No. 17/199,992, filed Mar. 12, 2021, whichclaims priority to U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/662,474, filedJul. 28, 2017, now U.S. Pat. No. 10,978,861, issued Apr. 13, 2021, whichclaims priority to U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/556,117, filedNov. 29, 2014, now U.S. Pat. No. 9,722,405, issued Aug. 1, 2017.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention has to do with a locking cable hanger system for use inthe solar, mining, and electrical industries. In solar, mining, andelectrical industries there is a need for electrical cables to extendfrom a power or signal source to a location of application. Such cablesare usually supported by a messenger wire that are themselvesindependently structurally supported and strung along the planned cableroute. In solar plants, direct current wires attach first to the solarpanels and then run to combiner boxes before extending further to powerinverters. In addition, alternating current power cables are used topower the motors that control the trackers, devices that rotate thesolar panels to follow the sun in order to obtain maximum power duringdaylight hours.

Prior to 2014, AC and DC cables could be bundled immediately adjacentto, and touching, one another in a wire management system for the solarpanels. In the new National Electric Code of 2014, the AC and DC cablesmust not be immediately adjacent to one another, but must have a degreeof separation from one another. Power carrying cables have a tendency toinduce errors or interfere with the signal wires that are located inclose proximity to them. This new requirement also applies to otherapplications outside the solar power industry, such as the mining andelectrical industries.

Because of the increased use of trackers in solar power plants, there isincreased use of category five cables and other data wiring. This typeof control wiring is used to give power plant operators feedback fromthe solar power plant array on what angles the panels are stationed, andwhat the proper angle should be to maximize power output from the sun.This data and information is constantly monitored to obtain maximumpower output from the thousands of solar panels in the solar powerplant. The type of wiring used in collecting data is sensitive to cablesused for AC and DC power and because of that sensitivity, data wiringcannot be bundled with power cables and must be supported by a separatecarrier that is at least one inch away from all power cables.

In solar power plants, mining and other electrical applications, thereare various sized wires and bundles of wires with an almost unlimitedvariety of wire bundle sizes. Bundle size is becoming very important inthe manufacture of hangers to accommodate these various sizes,especially in multiple carrier hangers.

The cable hanger has a unique locking arm attachment section which has aclosed loop spiral for a secure lock on the messenger wire. In the past,hangers had open loops or modified open loops on the top attachmentsection which could easily fall off if the hanger were bumped or hitduring the wire loading process. In a solar plant there is a recent moveto tracker systems which utilize more wiring than previously fixed inplace systems. There is also the new NEC code which went into effectJan. 1, 2014, which states that all AC and DC wiring must now beseparated in any hanging or support system. Because of these changes,the wire management systems are much more complex, especially given thevast number of wires involved in a utility scale solar power plant. Withthese changes, the hangers are initially installed on the messenger wirewith a captive top spiral loop, and the bundles of cables are loadedseparately in the carrier or carriers of the hanger. This processcontinues until all individual cables and bundles of cables aresupported in the hangers. In the process of loading cables, the hangersare constantly bumped and jostled as they are loaded with bundles ofcables. All styles of hangers presently on the market can easily falloff the messenger wire because they are only hanging by one open loop,and they can fall off when bumped during cable installation. CambriaCounty's Association for The Blind And Handicapped (“CAB”) is a new andimproved captive locking arm designed to securely grip the messengerwire so the cable hangers stay in position during the entire loadingprocess and will not fall off when bumped or knocked. After all cablesare loaded, the other top attachment end of the cable hanger is thensqueezed and locked on the messenger wire.

The new NEC code requires any cable support system to have supports thatare spaced at no greater than twelve-inch intervals. This applies tocable trays, hangers or all other types of cable support systems. Theold-style hangers with their open style loops can fall off easily duringinstallation and also easily slide out of their twelve-inch spacing whenloading the cables. This is a more serious problem when you considerthat there are tens of thousands of hangers being installed in thedesert heat which can reach 120 degree F. Any wasted labor is a highadditional cost in this environment. The new unique captive closed looplocking arm on CAB's cable hangers securely retains the hanger in placeeven when bumped or knocked around during the cable installationprocess. This improved captive engagement will also keep cable hangerssecurely in position on the twelve-inch centers and eliminate the needto reposition hangers on twelve-inch centers after all cables have beenloaded into the carriers of the hangers.

A major factor affecting labor costs during installation of cables ishow easily the electrician can load the cables and bundles of cables inthe hangers in the stifling heat of the desert where solar power plantsare usually located. All styles of cable hangers presently on the marketwill easily swing from side to side as they are initially suspended onthe messenger wire. This means an electrician must take one hand andproperly align the hanger in a 90 degree perpendicular orientation tothe messenger wire in order to load the cables or bundles of cables inthe hanger with the other hand. This two handed process of aligning thehanger increases the time necessary to load cables over the thousands offeet of messenger wire with the hangers on twelve-inch centers. Thenewly designed captive top locking arm of the CAB cable hanger addressesthis problem by always maintaining the hanger at a 90 degree orientationto the messenger wire on initial installation. The newly designed toplocking arm totally eliminates any lengthwise swinging or travelingmovement from side to side and allows the electrician to use both handsfor the loading of cables and cable bundles. The new design feature willsave many hours of labor in the field and improve efficiency bymaintaining twelve-inch centers on the messenger wire when installingall types of cables or cable bundles.

The secure gripping top locking arm is a major improvement in hangerswhich can save hundreds of hours of labor on a large scale solar powerplant; it greatly improves the efficiency of electricians and thequality of cable installations. Three major advantages of the new securetop locking installation arm are: the elimination of hangers falling offthe messenger wires during loading, maintaining hangers at the properorientation to the messenger wire for ease of cable loading, andmaintaining the cable hanger on the messenger wire at the specifiedspacing for improved quality and speed of installation

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

This invention has to do with a locking cable hanger and multiple cablecarriers or saddles on one hanger.

The arrangement according to the present invention comprises a flexiblewire of shape retention material formed so as to have an elongatedu-shaped configuration forming a pair of spaced apart side armsextending from a closed configuration on one end to an openconfiguration on the other end. Cable supports (saddles) extend acrossthe space between the side arms with co-operating elements of supportand attachment between the cable supports and the side arms to supportthe cable supports on the wire hanger between the side arms. Attachmentsections are formed on each of the open ends of the spaced apart armswith the attachment sections being elastically shape resilient andflexible so as to be bent together for attachment to a messenger wire.The attachment sections comprise two loops, one of which wraps aroundthe messenger wire to effectively lock it in place and the other an openloop which simply latches onto the messenger wire. Installation involvestwisting the locking arm around the messenger wire to secured it inplace, then squeezing the cable hanger from both sides to a point whenthe second loop goes past and under the messenger wire so when it israised and released, the second loop forcefully engages the messengerwire.

This locking hanger and saddle system can have one to five individualseparate saddles or cable supports arranged in either a vertical orhorizontal configuration. The saddles can attach to the cable hanger ina variety of positions to provide a greater support area for cables andto allow for the separation of cable bundles. One cable hanger caninclude one to five saddles to accommodate up to five cables or bundlesof cable separately. In the vertical design, the saddle can lay on thebottom of the ring or through a wire form retention designed to beattached anywhere from the bottom of the ring to the top of the ring. Inthis manner of construction, the spacing distance between the saddlescan vary to any size to accommodate any size cable or cable bundle. Inthe horizontal design the saddle would lay on the bottom of the hangerfor additional cable support.

The locking saddle and hanger assembly according to the presentinvention also includes the option of an integrated closed loop on thetop of the hanger which is used to safely hold category five cables orother small wiring in an area separate and has a good distance from thebundles of power cables. In this manner of construction, the moresensitive fiber-optic or control wires are retained in a separatecarrier at least one-inch from the bundles of power cables in thehorizontal or vertical design of this cable ring in saddle arrangement.The distance of separation will ensure there is no signal strength lossor interference on the category five cables from the power cables.

The saddle and hanger system according to the present invention alsoincludes the option of a total or partial coating of PVC, plastisol, orother style coating on the saddle and hanger assembly. The PVC coatingis a high dielectric grade and flame retardant. The coating has UVinhibitors for the more demanding environments of solar power plants indesert locations and for improved performance and highly corrosiveenvironments. The total PVC coating on the cable hanger assemblyprovides additional corrosion resistance and protection of cables; italso add stability by providing a more secure grip of the top attachmentloops to the messenger wire. A totally PVC coated single or multiplecable ring and saddle assembly is also easier to handle and install witha heavy 50 to 100 mil inch thick PVC coating over the entire surface.This coating helps to retain all saddles in a fixed position whicheliminates the chance of loose saddles moving out of position duringinstallation. The PVC coating is 50 to 100 mils inch thick which alsohas the added benefit of providing cushioning for the hands whensqueezing in installing the cable hanger on the messenger wire. Thisbenefit improves efficiency by allowing more cable hangers to beinstalled and significantly reduces the fatigue factor of the hand.

Materials used for the cable hangers include high tensile spring steelsuch as class 50 galvanized steel, copper clad steel, or type 316stainless steel. Material can be 0.125 to 0.250 inch diameter hightensile spring steel, round or rolled flat wire form. This high qualitymaterial provides maximum strength with a smooth, flat surface for thesupport of cables and rounded edges for the protection of cable jackets.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the present invention to provide a cable supportsystem that can be easily installed and remain captive on the messengerwire during installation of cables thereby improving efficiency of laborin the solar, mining, and electrical industries.

It is the object of the present invention to provide a cable supportsystem that maintains the position of the hanger at a specified spacingon the messenger wire to improve the quality and efficiency of cableinstallations.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a cable supportsystem that will consistently maintain a cable hanger in the proper 90degree orientation to the messenger wire for ease of loading cables andcable bundles by electricians.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a new safe and moreefficient hanger system for the solar, mining, and electricalindustries.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a new multiple cablehanger system for the solar, mining, and electrical industries.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a new hanger systemthat greatly reduces installation labor time for the solar, mining, andelectrical industries.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a moreorganized system to support cables in the solar, mining, and electricalindustries.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a cablesupport system that provides a safer, secure, strong, and effectiveseparation of cables and wires so as to protect the electricalperformance of cables in the solar, mining and electrical applications.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a stronger,more corrosion resistant cable management system for the solar, mining,and electrical industries.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a moreflexible cable management system for multiple bundles of cables ofdifferent sizes for the solar, mining, and electrical industries.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a safer cablemanagement system for communication, control and electrical cables forthe solar, mining, and electrical industries.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an environmental perspective showing one end of the hangeraccording to the present invention engaged on a cable.

FIG. 2 is an environmental perspective showing the fully mounted hangeraccording to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a perspective showing a double carrier hanger according to thepresent invention.

FIG. 4 is a front view of a hanger according to the present invention.

FIG. 5 top view of a hanger according to the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a bottom view of the hanger according to the presentinvention.

FIG. 7 is left end view of a hanger according to the present invention.

FIG. 8 is right end view of a hanger according to the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a fragmentary view showing the first position in mounting ahanger according to the present invention.

FIG. 9a is another fragmentary view showing the first position inmounting a hanger.

FIG. 10 is a fragmentary view showing the second position in mounting ahanger according to the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a fragmentary view showing the final position in mounting ahanger according to the present invention.

FIG. 12 is a cross-section of the hanger according to the presentinvention taken on the line 12-12 from FIG. 11.

FIG. 13 is a top view of the hanger according to the present inventiondevice mounted on a cable and supporting another cable.

FIG. 14 is a perspective view of an uncoated, vertically mounted doublecarrier hanger according to the present invention.

FIG. 15 is a perspective view of a PVC coated, vertically mounted doublecarrier hanger according to the present invention.

FIG. 16 is a left end view of an uncoated, vertically mounted hangeraccording to the present invention.

FIG. 17 is a front view of an uncoated, vertically mounted hangeraccording to the present invention.

FIG. 18 is a cross-section taken on the line 18-18 of FIG. 17 of thehanger according to the present invention.

FIG. 19 is a bottom view of an uncoated, vertically mounted hangeraccording to the present invention.

FIG. 20 is a front view of an uncoated, vertically mounted hangeraccording to the present invention.

FIG. 21 is a fragmentary side view showing the crimp in the legs of thehanger according to the present invention that keeps the saddle inplace.

FIG. 22 is a cross-section taken on the line 22-22 of FIG. 21 of thehanger according to the present invention.

FIG. 23 is a diagrammatic view showing various permutations of verticaland horizontal hangers according to the present invention.

FIG. 24 is a fragmentary side view showing the crimp-locking method ofkeeping a hanger according to the present invention in place

FIG. 25 is a fragmentary cross-section taken on the line 25-25 of FIG.24 of the hanger according to the present invention.

FIG. 26 is a front view of a coated, single mount hanger according tothe present invention.

FIG. 27 is a fragmentary cross-section taken on the line 27-27 of FIG.26 of the hanger according to the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF DRAWING

Shown in FIG. 1 is an environmental perspective showing a hanger 10according to the present invention. The hanger 10 has a spiral gripper24 that is engage with the messenger wire 12. The hanger 10 is formed ofa wire 14 that has opposing ends 11 and 13 that has been bent into aU-shaped configuration to form at least one (one to sometimes five)cable carrier formations 16, 17 with a cable carrier divider 18separating cable carrier formations 16 and 17. The hanger 10 hasshoulders 20 and 22 that extend towards each other from the lateralopposing sides 30 and 32 of the hanger 10. Formed on the distal end ofshoulder 22 is the spiral gripper 24 that engages the messenger wire 12.Formed on the distal end of shoulder 20 is the locking hook 26 that hasthe data carrier loop 28 formed on its distal end. The cable carrierformations 16, 17 are of the same or different widths so that differentcable sizes may be loaded onto the hanger 10 prior to it being locked inplace. A similar hanger 10 is shown further down the messenger wire 12to show how the cable may be loaded into several hangers prior to thetop locking loop 26 being engaged with the messenger wire 12. The wire14 used for the hanger 10 is selected from the group consisting of roundor flat rolled galvanized or stainless steel spring material. The wire14 will have a shape memory retention property so as to provide alocking force when both the spiral gripper 24 and the locking hook 26are engaged with the messenger wire 12. In order to fully engage thehanger 10 with the messenger wire 12 lateral sides 30 and 32 must besqueezed so that shoulders 20 and 22 come towards each other and thelocking hook 26 comes under the messenger wire 12 so that when thesqueezing of the hanger 10 is released the locking hook 26 will engagethe messenger wire as is more formally shown in FIG. 2.

FIG. 2 is an environmental perspective view showing the hanger 10 fullymounted on the messenger wire 12. The spiral gripper 24 is engaged withthe messenger wire 12 and the locking loop 26 is also fully engage withthe messenger wire 12. The spiral gripper 24 has at least twointerference abutment surfaces that will but with messenger wire 12 tohold the hanger 10 in place on the messenger wire 12. The locking looplocking hook 26 has at least one abutment surface that engages themessenger wire 12 and it is the spring force exerted by the wirematerial that urges shoulders 20 and 22 apart and causes a locking forceto be exerted between the abutment surface on locking hook 26 and thetwo abutment surfaces on the spiral gripper 24.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged perspective view of the hanger 10 according to thepresent invention as it is attached to the messenger wire 12. The hanger10 is shown having to cable carrier formations 16, 17 with cable divider18 shown separating the carrier formations 16, 17. Shoulders 20 and 22are shown extending towards one another from the lateral sides 30 and 32of the hanger 10. Formed on the distal end is a spiral gripper formation24 that terminates in end 13 of the wire 14 that is used to form thehanger 10; the spiral gripper formation 24 and has at least twomessenger wire abutment surfaces as is shown at 34, 36 such that whenthe locking hook 26 is engaged with the messenger wire 12 the abutmentsurface surfaces 34 and 36 on the spiral gripper 24 will engage themessenger wire 12 in such a way as to prevent sliding movement along themessenger wire 12; the locking hook 26 has its distal end 11 and formedon that distal end is a data carrier loop 28 for carrying the datainformation wire along the same path as the messenger wire. What isimportant is that the hanger 10 provides a sufficient separation betweenboth cable carrier formations 16, 17 and a further sufficient separationbetween the two carriers formations 16, 17, and the data carrier loop 28as can be seen when engaged the shoulders 20, 22 have been compressed,preferably by an installer and gripping the outer and squeezing themsuch that the locking hook 26 and data carrier loop 38 have gone underthe messenger wire 12 and then are raised so that when the spring wire14 is released the locking hook 26 then has an abutment surface 38 thatfirmly engages the messenger wire 12 and creates a locking force on themessenger wire 12 between the abutment surfaces 34, 36, and 38.

What is shown in FIG. 4 is a side view of the hanger 10 according to thepresent invention. The hanger 10 has a first cable carrier formation 16and a second cable carrier portion 17. The cable carrier formations 16,17 are located immediately adjacent to one another with a cable carrierdivider 18 located between the two cable carrier formations 16, 17.Lateral sides 30 and 32 are shown on the hanger 10 with lateral sideshaving shoulders 22 and 20 that extend from the upper end of the lateralsides 30 and 32 towards one another. The distal end of the shoulder 22has the spiral wound gripper 24 formed thereon with the wire end 12shown therein. The shoulder 20 extends from the lateral side 32 andforms the locking hook 26 which has at its distal end the data carrierloop 28, the opposing ends 11 of the wire 14 shown therein.

What is shown in FIG. 5 is a top view of the hanger 10 according to thepresent invention. The data carrier wire formation 27 is shown formed atthe end of the locking hook 26. The top of the cable carrier divider 18is shown separating the cable carrier formations 16, 17. The shoulder 22is shown extending out to the spiral gripper 24.

What is shown in FIG. 6 is a bottom view of the hanger 10 according tothe present invention. The cable carrier divider 18 is shown dividingthe cable carrier formations 16 and 17 with the spiral gripper 24 andthe data carrier loop 28 shown formed thereon.

Shown in FIG. 7 is a left end view of the hanger 10 according to thepresent invention. The hanger 10 is shown with the cable carrier divider18 dividing the cable carrier formations 16, 17, the shoulders 22, 20shown leading to the spiral gripper 24 and forming the locking looplocking hook 26. The locking hook 26 has the data carrier loop 28 formedthereon.

What is shown in FIG. 8 is a right end view of the hanger 10 accordingto the present invention. The hanger 10 is shown for the cable carrierdivider 18 dividing the carrier formations 16, 17 with a shoulder 22leading up to the spiral gripper 24 and showing the opposing end 13 ofthe wire 14. Also shown is the shoulder 20 that leads up to the lockinghook 26 which has the data carrier loop 28 formed on its distal end.

What is shown in FIGS. 9 and 9A is a fragmentary view showing the firstposition of engaging the hanger 10 with the messenger wire 12. Theshoulder 22 of the hanger 10 is held closely adjacent to the messengerwire 12 and the spiral gripper 24 is placed down over the messenger wirewith the end 13 to the far side of the messenger wire 12. FIG. 9 showsthis result more clearly that the end 13 of the spiral gripper 24 is nowat or below the level of the messenger wire 12 and the spiral gripper 24is mounted on the messenger wire 12

What is shown in FIGS. 10-12 is a view of the hanger 10 as originallyshown in FIGS. 9 and 9A but with the shoulder 22 having been pushedunder the messenger wire 12, to the opposite side of the messenger wire12, and has rotated the end 13, also under the messenger wire 12, andend 13 is now projecting on the other side as is shown in FIG. 12 inthis manner to captively hold the hanger 10 on the messenger wire 12.

FIG. 11 is a fragmentary view showing the final position in mounting ahanger according to the present invention. Shown in FIG. 11 is themessenger wire 12 having the hanger 10 actually hanging on the messengerwire 12; the spiral gripper 24 is shown surrounding the messenger wire12 of its end 13 pointing upward.

FIG. 12 is a top view of the hanger 10 according the present inventionon the messenger wire 12.

FIG. 13 is a top view of the hanger 10 according to the presentinvention, with the hanger mounted on the messenger wire 12 andsupporting the data carrier wire 38. As is shown in FIG. 13, messengerwire 12 has a hanger 10 firmly held in place by the spiral gripper 24and the locking hook 26 firmly engaged with the messenger wire 12. Theprevious steps in the above FIG. 10 maneuvered the shoulder 22 such thatthe spiral gripper 24 was placed on the messenger wire 12. Cables havebeen loaded into the cable carrier and the locking loop 26 was broughtthrough and under the messenger wire 12 and then released. Oncereleased, the shape memory material would cause the wire to spring backto its initial state and engage the messenger wire 12. Shown oppositethe spiral gripper 24 and the locking hook 26, is the data carrier loop28 carrying the data wire 38.

FIG. 14 is a perspective of an alternate hanger 40 according to thepresent invention. What is shown in FIG. 14 is an alternate hanger 40that is made of a wire 44 that is either round or flat rolled stainlesssteel, or flat rolled galvanized steel, that has been formed in theU-shaped configuration having upper shoulders 50, 52 that extend fromlateral sides 60 and 62 of the U-shaped formation. On the end ofshoulder 52 is spiral gripper 64 that engages the messenger wire 12. Thewire has an ends 41, 43 as shown in FIG. 14. The data wire 38 is shownengaging the data carrier loop 58. The hanger 40 has a spiral gripper 64and a locking loop 56 that engages the messenger wire 12 to hold ahanger 40 firmly in place. Cable carrier saddles 46 and 47 are shownengaged with and supported from lateral sides 60 and 62. The saddles 46and 47 each have opposing ends 70 and 72 with separate ear formations 80and 82 formed thereon. The separate ear formations 80 and 82 have a slotformed that fits around the lateral side 60 of the hanger 40. The ears80 and 82 are then crimped towards one another so as to permanently holdthe saddles 46 and 47 in place on each lateral side 60 and 62 of thehanger 40. As will be seen later the lateral sides 60 and 62 of theU-shaped formation of the hanger 40 may be bent inwardly at thejunctures with a side 70, 72 of the saddles 46 or 47 so as to bettersupport the cable saddles on the hanger 40.

FIG. 15 is a perspective of two alternate hanger's 100 according to thepresent invention. Shown in FIG. 15 are hangers 100 that are attached toa messenger wire 12 and carry data wire 38. The hangers 100 are formedof a wire 102 that has been bent in the U-shaped formation to have tohave lateral sides 104 and 106, the lateral sides 104 and 106 each have,respectively, upper shoulders 108 and 110. The upper shoulder 108 endswith a spiral gripper 112 with the end of the wire shown at 103. Thespiral gripper 112 is shown engaging the messenger wire 12. The uppershoulder 110 of hanger 100 has a locking loop 114 with a data carrierloop 116 formed thereon, the end of the wire on the lateral shoulderside 106 is labeled 101. Hangers 100 are coated with a plastisol coatingthat has a high flame retardant, high UV resistance, and high dielectricvalue. Saddles 116, 118 are shown with ends 120 and 122 attached to thelateral sides 104 and 106 of the one hanger 100; cables 130 and 132 areshown as they would be placed and suspended by the hangers 100.

Shown in FIG. 16 is the alternate hanger 40 shown in a side view. Thealternate hanger 40, shows the lateral side 60 with the saddles 46 and47 attached to the lateral side 60. The saddles 46, 47 have ears 80, 82formed upon each of the saddles 46 and 47 such that the slot 84 engagesthe lateral side 60 of the hanger 40 is shown having upper shoulders 50,52 with the shoulder 52 having a spiral gripper 64 shown thereon and thedata carrier loop 58 shown at the end of shoulder 50. Shown in FIG. 17is a front view of the hanger 40 shown in FIG. 16 with the data carrierloop shown at 58 and spiral gripper shown at 64, saddles 46 and 47 areshown attached to the lateral sides 60 and 62 of the hanger for theU-shaped hanger 40.

FIG. 17 is a front view of an uncoated, vertically mounted hanger 100according to the present invention. In FIG. 17 each of the lateral side60 and 62 is shown being bent inward at 65 so as to add an additionalsupport from the lateral sides 60 and 62 to the bottom of the saddle 46while the ears 80 and 82 will be crimped around the lateral side 60 and62 of the U-shaped hanger 40. The additional bands at 65 of the lateralsides 60 and 62 will add support to the carrier 46 when a cable isloaded into the top of saddle 46.

FIG. 18 is a cross-section taken on the line 18-18 of FIG. 17 of thehanger 40 according to the present invention, shown in FIG. 18 havingthe ears 80 and 82 engaged with the lateral side 60 and 62 of the hanger40.

FIG. 19 is a bottom view of an uncoated, vertically mounted hanger 40according to the present invention.

FIG. 20 is a front view of an uncoated, singly mounted hanger 40according to the present invention. The hanger 40 shown in FIG. 20 hasU-shaped lateral sides 60, 62: a single saddle 46 between the lateralside 60, 62; the data carrier loop 58 is shown formed on the uppershoulder 52 with the spiral gripper 64 shown in the upper part ofshoulder 50.

FIGS. 21 and 22 show the bends in the lateral side 60 and 62 that isused to hold the saddle 47, on the lateral sides 60 and 62 is afragmentary side view showing the crimp in the legs of the hanger 40according to the present invention that keeps the saddle in place.

FIG. 22 is a cross-section taken on the line 22-22 of FIG. 21 of thehanger according to the present invention.

FIG. 23 is a diagrammatic view showing various permutations of verticaland horizontal hangers according to the present invention. As can beseen in FIG. 23 it is within the contemplation of this invention thatwhether the hangers 10, 40 or 100 are furnished with the spiral gripperand locking hook there are many configurations of vertical andhorizontal saddle or carry arrangements that can be utilized with thistype of locking hanger. The upper part of FIG. 23 shows that avertically oriented hanger can have saddle supports of one, two, threeor more, that can be attached to a cable messenger wire. The lower partof FIG. 23 shows that the horizontal carrier formations 16 and 17 may beformed using a single carrier formations 16, double carrier formations16, 17 or a triple or more carrier formation of 1617 and 19. Each of thecarrier formations 16, 17 will have a carrier divider 18 formed betweeneach of the carrier formations. Horizontal oriented hangers can haveone, two, or three, or more cable carriers.

FIGS. 24 and 25 are a fragmentary side view of a hanger 40 showing thecrimp-locking method of keeping a saddle supported in place according tothe present invention. Shown in FIG. 24 is a saddle 47 with the ears 80and 82 shown crimped around the lateral side 60 of the hanger 40.

FIG. 25 is a fragmentary cross-section taken on the line 25-25 of FIG.24 of the hanger 40 according to the present invention.

FIG. 26 is a side view of a coated, single mount hanger 40 according tothe present invention.

FIG. 27 is a fragmentary cross-section taken on the line 27-27 of FIG.26 of the hanger according to the present invention.

What is claimed is:
 1. A system for organizing a plurality of electricalcables extending from a plurality of solar panels, the systemcomprising: a messenger wire structured to be supported a distance abovethe ground; and a plurality of cable hangers structured to be disposedalong, and suspended from, the messenger wire, each cable hanger havinga plurality of cable carrying surfaces, each cable carrying surfacebeing structured to support at least one electrical cable of theplurality of electrical cables.
 2. The system of claim 1, wherein theplurality of cable carrying surfaces comprises at least three cablecarrying surfaces.
 3. The system of claim 1, wherein the plurality ofcable carrying surfaces comprises at least four cable carrying surfaces.4. The system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of cable carryingsurfaces comprises at least five cable carrying surfaces.
 5. The systemof claim 1, wherein adjacent cable carrying surfaces of the plurality ofcable carrying surfaces are separated by a cable carrier divider.
 6. Thesystem of claim 5, wherein the cable carrier divider extends vertically.7. The system of claim 1, wherein each cable hanger of the plurality ofcable hangers comprises: a high tensile strength wire with two opposingends and configured intermediate of said ends to form a plurality ofsubstantially U-shaped configurations each having a cable carryingsurface of the plurality of cable carrying surfaces located thereon;outermost lateral spaced apart opposing sides forming the boundary ofsaid hanger; opposite shoulders extending toward each other from saidspaced apart opposite sides, each of said shoulders having anarrangement structured to engage the messenger wire so as to securelyhold the hanger on the messenger wire.
 8. The system of claim 7, whereinthe arrangement of one of the shoulders that is structured to engage themessenger wire is a spiral gripper formation and the arrangement of theother shoulder that is structured to engage the messenger wire is alocking hook.
 9. The system of claim 1, wherein each cable hanger of theplurality of cable hangers comprises a wire selected from the group ofround galvanized steel, round stainless steel, flat rolled galvanizedsteel, flat rolled stainless steel.
 10. The system of claim 1, whereineach cable hanger of the plurality of cable hangers further comprises aformation structured to support a data carrier.
 11. The system of claim10, wherein the formation structured to support the data carrier ispositioned closer to the messenger wire than the cable carryingsurfaces.
 12. The system of claim 1, wherein each cable hanger of theplurality of cable hangers includes a plastisol or PVC coating.
 13. Thesystem of claim 12, wherein the coating has a thickness in the range offrom 50 mils to 100 mils thick.
 14. The system of claim 1, wherein eachcable hanger of the plurality of cable hangers includes a coating havinga flame retardant, high dielectric grade, UV inhibited material.
 15. Asolar plant comprising: a plurality of solar panels; a plurality ofelectrical cables extending from the plurality of solar panels; and asystem for organizing the plurality of electrical cables, the systemcomprising: a messenger wire supported a distance above the groundadjacent the solar panels; and a plurality of cable hangers disposedalong, and suspended from the messenger wire, each cable hanger having aplurality of cable carrying surfaces, each cable carrying surface beingstructured to support at least one electrical cable of the plurality ofelectrical cables.
 16. The solar plant of claim 15, wherein theplurality of cable carrying surfaces comprises at least three cablecarrying surfaces.
 17. The solar plant of claim 15, wherein theplurality of cable carrying surfaces comprises at least four cablecarrying surfaces.
 18. The solar plant of claim 15, wherein theplurality of cable carrying surfaces comprises at least five cablecarrying surfaces.
 19. The solar plant of claim 15, wherein adjacentcable carrying surfaces of the plurality of cable carrying surfaces areseparated by a cable carrier divider.
 20. The solar plant of claim 19,wherein the cable carrier divider extends vertically.
 21. The solarplant of claim 15, wherein each cable hanger of the plurality of cablehangers comprises: a high tensile strength wire with two opposing endsand configured intermediate of said ends to form a plurality ofsubstantially U-shaped configurations each having a cable carryingsurface of the plurality of cable carrying surfaces located thereon;outermost lateral spaced apart opposing sides forming the boundary ofsaid hanger; opposite shoulders extending toward each other from saidspaced apart opposite sides, each of said shoulders having anarrangement structured to engage the messenger wire so as to securelyhold the hanger on the messenger wire.
 22. The solar plant of claim 15,wherein each cable hanger of the plurality of cable hangers comprises awire selected from the group of round galvanized steel, round stainlesssteel, flat rolled galvanized steel, flat rolled stainless steel. 23.The solar plant of claim 15, further comprising a data carrierassociated with the plurality of solar panels, and wherein each cablehanger of the plurality of cable hangers further comprises a formationstructured to support the data carrier along the messenger wire.
 24. Thesolar plant of claim 23, wherein, for each cable hanger, the formationstructured to support the data carrier is positioned closer to themessenger wire than the cable carrying surfaces.
 25. The solar plant ofclaim 15, wherein each cable hanger of the plurality of cable hangersincludes a plastisol, PVC coating, and/or a coating having a flameretardant, high dielectric grade, UV inhibited material.
 26. A methodfor organizing a plurality of electrical cables extending from aplurality of solar panels in a solar plant, the method comprising:providing a messenger wire a distance above the ground; providing aplurality of cable hangers spaced along the messenger wire, each cablehanger having a plurality of cable carrying surfaces, each cablecarrying surface being structured to support at least one electricalcable of the plurality of electrical cables; providing a firstelectrical cable of the plurality of electrical cables in engagementwith a first cable carrying surface of each cable hanger of theplurality of cable hangers; and providing a second electrical cable ofthe plurality of electrical cables in engagement with a second cablecarrying surface of each cable hanger of the plurality of cable hangers.27. The method of claim 26, wherein: each cable hanger of the pluralityof cable hangers comprises: a high tensile strength wire with twoopposing ends and configured intermediate of said ends to form aplurality of substantially U-shaped configurations having cable carryingsurfaces located thereon; outermost lateral spaced apart opposing sidesforming the boundary of said hanger; opposite shoulders extending towardeach other from said spaced apart opposite sides, each of said shouldershaving an arrangement structured to engage the messenger wire so as tosecurely hold the hanger on the messenger wire; and the method furthercomprises, for each cable hanger, bringing the arrangement of one of theshoulders of the cable hanger into engagement with the messenger wireafter providing at least the first electrical cable of the plurality ofelectrical cables in engagement with the first cable carrying surface.28. The method of claim 26, further comprising providing a thirdelectrical cable of the plurality of electrical cables in engagementwith a third cable carrying surface of each cable hanger of theplurality of cable hangers.